Willis Butler

Willis's Story

WAITE - Willis L. Butler, 84, died after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, May 5, 1931, he was the son of Dessel W. and Ethel Butler.

He was a member of Lewey's Island Masonic Lodge in Princeton, American Legion Post 23 in Baileyville and attended the Princeton Congregational Church.

His hobbies included anything involving working with his hands. He loved working on older cars and achieved his lifelong dream of owning a convertible. He started out his mechanics career as a crew chief and mechanic on B-29s during the Korean War. Upon being discharged in 1954, he took advantage of the GI-Bill and studied body work, eventually becoming a body shop foreman and service manager at Niggles Pontiac in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. He moved back to Maine and worked for Georgia Pacific as a heavy equipment mechanic and finally retired as a mechanic working for Orland Dwelley, Inc. in Waite. He also owned and operated the Belmard Motel and Tourist Home with his wife, Letha.

Willis was predeceased by his wife, Letha E. Oakes Butler of Princeton; his mother and father, Ethel and Dessel Butler of Mt. Vernon, OH; 2 brothers, Leo Butler of Mt. Vernon and Franklin Butler of Newark, OH; and his loving companion, Avis Lyko of Waite.

He is survived by his son Frank W. Butler and girlfriend Tammy Leach; 2 daughters, Paula E. Butler of Orlando, Fla. and Cecilia E. Hunter and her fiance Paul Cole of Auburn; 6 grandchildren, Holly Harmon of Chuluota, FL, Matthew Butler of Ellsworth, Andrea and Doug Mcclanaghan of Torrington, CT, Angela and Chris Harrington of Epping, NH, John W. Hunter of Manassas, VA and Jennifer and Jorge Encisco of Huntley, Ill.; 7 great grandchildren, Evan and Owen Mcclanaghan of Torrington, CT, Emma Harrington of Epping, NH, Justice and Gage Rotta-Butler of Franklin, Harmony Butler of Winter Harbor, and Kaleb Perry of Auburn.

Services will be held at Princeton Congregational Church, 62 Main Street, at 2 p.m. on May 19, 2015. A reception will follow the committal in Princeton Cemetery.